Heitkamp questions postmaster general on proposed changes to mail delivery

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp met today with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to discuss the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) proposed mail delivery changes.

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Devils Lake Journal - Devils Lake, ND

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Posted Mar. 8, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Updated Mar 8, 2013 at 4:42 PM

Posted Mar. 8, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Updated Mar 8, 2013 at 4:42 PM

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp met today with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to discuss the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) proposed mail delivery changes. Heitkamp is concerned the proposal to eliminate Saturday mail delivery could disproportionately hurt rural North Dakota communities.

“I had a frank but productive discussion with Postmaster General Donahoe,” said Heitkamp, who is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee which oversees the USPS. “I was very clear that I am committed to ensuring North Dakotans get a fair shake from the USPS.”

“I reiterated to the Postmaster General my concerns that this proposal has the potential to negatively impact North Dakota, particularly seniors and small businesses. While I understand that the USPS has some serious financial problems, I am skeptical that the savings generated by ending six-day delivery is worth the loss of service and potential loss of volume. Moreover, by cutting some Saturday delivery, the USPS is giving up a key advantage it has over its competitors.”

In February, Heitkamp and 23 other Senators questioned Donahoe’s plan to stop Saturday mail delivery. Heitkamp and her colleagues wrote that “a piecemeal strategy that focuses on cutting services and forgoes a critical competitive advantage is not the solution. Instead, we need a comprehensive postal reform bill that allows the Postal Service to modernize while protecting its crucial obligations and services.”